Army and RAF personnel notified of redundancies

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Army and RAF personnel will today be notified if they have been selected for redundancy in the first tranche of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme.

All notifications will be made either face-to-face, or by telephone.

For some, this will be as a result of their own choice to apply for consideration to be made redundant, but for many others will be unwelcome news. All those who are made redundant face significant changes to not only their own lives but also to those of their families.

Those personnel who will be returning to civilian life through redundancy will receive full support from their chain of command and the comprehensive resettlement package to make this transition.

Applicants will serve up to six months’ notice before leaving the Armed Forces, while non-applicants will serve up to 12 months’ notice; anyone wanting to leave earlier can ask their Service.

Those selected for redundancy, and who meet the selection criteria, will have the opportunity to apply to shortage area categories.

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, has issued the following statement to all Service personnel:

The changes to the structure of the Armed Forces require adjustments throughout the Services and each Service will be adapting accordingly, including in the balance between Regular and Reserve Forces.

The reduction in our Regular Forces, in addition to the usual manning control measures, is being managed through the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who will be leaving the Services for their substantial contribution to our Armed Forces and the nation’s security.

While for some redundancy may be seen as an opportunity, for others it will understandably represent a significant challenge for both the individual and their families. Your chain of command and our comprehensive resettlement package will give you support to ensure your successful transition, whether to shortage areas within the Armed Forces or to civilian life.

I am aware that this continues to be an unsettling time and that this only represents the first tranche of redundancy. Throughout this period we need to remain focused on operations and maintaining the quality that makes our Armed Forces, person for person, the finest in the world.

The Army are notifying approximately 920 personnel they are to be made redundant, of whom approximately 660 are applicants and 260 non-applicants.

The RAF are notifying approximately 930 personnel they are to be made redundant, of whom approximately 440 are applicants and 490 non-applicants. This includes those students withdrawn from the Flying Training Pipeline and Weapon System Officer training who have not transferred to other branches or otherwise have left the RAF.

The Royal Navy will notify their first tranche of redundancy selections on 30 September 2011; up to three more tranches will follow for each Service to enable the overall manpower reductions required.